The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-12-14

their primary and PLAIN effect, raise the
price to consumers Of all articles import
ed and subject to duty by precisely the
sum paid for such duties.
1t is not proposed TO entirely relieve
the country OF this taxation 1t must be
extensively continued as the source of
the governments income, and in read
justment of our tariff the interests of
American labor engaged in manufacture
should be carefully considered, as well as
the preservation of our manufacturers.
1t may be called protection, or by any
other name, but relief from the hardship
and dangers of our present tariff laws,
should be devised with especial precau-
ton against imperiline the existence of
our manufacturing interests.
1t is also said that the increase in the
price of domestic manufactures, resulting
from the present tariff, is necessary in
order that higher wages may be paid to
our workingmen employed in manufac-
tories than are paid for what is called the
pauper labor of Europe. All will ac-
knowledge the force of an argument
which involves the welfare and liberal
compensation of our laboring people.
Our labor is honorable in the eyes of
every American citizen, and as il lies at
the foundation of cur development and
progress, it is entitled, without fiction or
hypocricy, 10 the highest regard. The
standard of our laborers' life should not
be measured by that of any other coun-
try less favored, and they are entitled to
their full share of all our advantages.
BY the last census it was made TO ap-
pear that of the Il ,392 ,099 of our popula-
ton engaged in all kinds of industries,
1870, ,493 are employed in agriculture. 4 :
074, ,23s in professions and personal SER
vice, l., 1854 SO of whom are dometic SER
wants and laborers, while l,sl0,256 are
employed in trade and transportation,
and 3,S37 lip are classed as empl ,yed in
manufacturing and mining.
For present purposes, however, the last
number given should be considerably re-
duced Without attempting 10 enumer-
ate all, il will be conceded that there
should be deducted from those which it
includes, 375, l43 carpenters and joiners,
2S5, ,40l milliners, dressmakers and seam
stresses. 1s2,626 blacksmiths, 1885 tai
lors and tailoresses, lO2,473 masons, 76,-
24l butchers, fl 800 bakers, 220sS plaster
ers, and 1891 engaged in manufacture
ing agricultural implements, amounting
in the aggregate to ,234 ,023, leaving q,
623, ,0s9 persons employed in such manu-
featuring industries as are claimed to be
benefited by high tariff
But the reduction of taxation demand
ed should be so measured as not to ne
cessitate or justify either the loss of en-
ployment by the workingman or the
lessening of his wages; and the profits
still remaining to the manufacturer, after
a necessary readjustment, should furnish
no excuse for the sacrifice ofthe interests
Of his employees either in their opportu-
nifty to work or in the diminution of their
compensation.
The farmer and the agriculturist, who
manufacture nothing, but 10 pays the
increased price which the tariff imposes
upon every agricultural implement, upon
all he wears and upon all he uses and
owns, except the increase of his fiocks
and herds and such things as his hus-
bandry produces from the soil, is invited
to aid in maintaing the present situation,
and he is told that high duty on import
wool is necessary for the benefit of those
who have sheep to shear, in order that
the price of their wool may be increased.
They, of course, are not reminded that
the farmer who has no sheep is by this
scheme obliged, in his purchases of cloth
ing and woolen goods, to pay tribute to
his fellow farmer, as well as to the manu-
fi,ctnrer and merchant; nor is any men
tion made of the fact that the sheep own
ers themselves and their households
must wear clothing and use other arti-
cles manufactured from the wool they
sell at tariff prices, and thus, as consum-
ers, must return their share of this in
creased price to the tradesman-
| think it may be fairly assumed that
a large proportion OF the sheep owned by
the farmers throughout the country are
found in small flocks numbering from -
to 80. The duty on the grade of import
ed wool which the sheep yield is 10 cents
for each pound if of the value of 80 cents
or less. and II cents if of the value of
more than 30 cents If the liberal esti-
mate of six pounds be allowed for each
fleece. the duty thereon would be 60 or
y cents, and this may be taken as the
utmost enhancement of its price TO the
farmer by reason Of this duty. Eighteen
dollars would thus represent the increas-
ed price of the wool from p sheep, and
$50 that from the wool of 30 sheep; and
at present values this addition would
amount TO about one third of its price.
If upon its sale the farmer receives this
or les, tariff profit, the wool leaves his
hands charged with precisely that sum,
which in all its changes will adhere TO it,
until il reaches the consumer.
When man ifactured into cloth and
other goods and material for use, its cost
is not only increased to the extent of the
farmers tariff profit, but a further sum
has been added for the benefit of the
under the operation of 9TH
er tariff laws; in the meantime the day
arrives when the farmer finds it neces-
sary to purchase woolen goods and ma
terial to clothe himself and family for the
for that purpose he discovers that he is
obliged not only to return in the way
Of increased prices his tariff profit on the
wool he sold, and which then perhaps
lies before him in manufactured form,
but that he must add considerable sum
thereto TO meet further increase in cost
caused by tariff duty on the manufac-
tnre. Thus, in the end he is aroused to